Colin Farrell in Talks for "More Exciting" Season 2 of True Detective

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HBO president hypes Season 2's first two scripts while rumors of Colin Farrell circulate.

By Matt Fowler

While rumors of True Detective Season 2 casting have been swirling about since May - when Brad Pitt and Jessica Chastain were the supposed duo - we now know that a Season 2 casting announcement is imminent. Thanks to HBO President Michael Lombardo who said, during yesterday's executive Q&A panel at the TCA press tour, "We’re in conversations now on the cast. And I assume at least some announcements will be happening in the next week."

So who might wind up as the new True Detective leads? Well The Wrap reports that Colin Farrell (Total Recall, Saving Mr. Banks) is in deep talks to star in Season 2 - with Taylor Kitsch (Friday Night Lights, The Normal Heart) reportedly being eyed as a second lead.

Colin Farrell in Seven Psychopaths.

The Wrap also reports that Garrett Hedlund (Tron: Legacy, Inside Llewyn Davis) is also being considered for the younger male role that Kitsch is being eyed for, but that Kitsch perhaps has the edge.

As for Season 2 itself, Lombardo stated that the first two of Nic Pizzolatto's scripts are in and that they're incredible. "The two scripts we have are you know, again I hate to promise, but I hate to jinx it, but are more exciting than the first season. Nic is an incredibly talented writer, and he’s blown us away with the first two episodes."

Lombardo also spoke about the idea that True Detective, and cable anthology series in general, now feel the pressure to land big movie stars, which he then reminded everyone that McConaughey, to an extent, was not when he was first cast. "It’s funny, at the time that we committed to produce True Detective, Matthew certainly wasn’t the star that he turned out to be during the course of production. Dallas Buyers Club came out. So I think we decided early on to free ourselves from the idea of star and just lean into great acting."

"And great writing," Lombardo continued. "But I’m saying in terms of casting, I think the truth of the matter is a number of people, you know, talented, well known actors look for great writing. I think the people we will cast will be well known names, but that wasn’t our ambition, and I don’t think that again, I don’t use that as a challenge. Again, I think great writing attracts great actors. I think the strength of that and maybe people came in initially to True Detective because they saw Matthew and Woody’s names, but I think they stayed because the shows were just really compelling. And I think going forward, that’s what we’re trusting is just well done shows will continue the brand and the series as it should be."